Live Blackjack Rules

Basic Rules in Playing Live Blackjack

Live blackjack is a card game that requires you to beat the live dealer by having a total card value of 21. But before you can start aiming for any huge prize, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules governing the game. Check out the following live blackjack rules:

1 │ Blackjack Cards Consider Value, Not Color

First and foremost, you should be aware of the values of the cards in the game. In this game, all numerical cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face values. Meanwhile, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 10 and Aces are equivalent to 1 or 11, depending on the player. Never forget that the game will focus only on the card value and not on the color of the cards.

2 │ Players Get 2 Cards

The dealer will shuffle all the cards and use a cut card to divide the deck into two. Then, the dealer will give each player two cards. You can perform different options based on the value of your the cards you got. If you think that the sum value of your cards is still far from 21, you can make a hit through which the dealer will give you another card. Hitting is usually done when your cards total to a value within 9 and 17.

But if you think you have a strong hand, say your total card value is 17 or more, then you should stand. Standing means that you are continuing the game with your original cards. Another option you can choose is split. When you split, you divide your cards into two independent cards. This is advisable when you have an Ace, 8, or cards with the same value. Splitting can prevent you from having a weak hand or having losing cards.

3 │ Dealers Will Offer Insurance Bet When He Has an Ace Card

In the event that the dealer gets an Ace card, he will give you the option to insure your bet. When you choose this option, half of your initial bet will be placed separately on the table. Once the dealer gets a blackjack, you get a 2-to-1 payout for your insurance. But if the dealer does not have a blackjack, you lose the insurance amount.

4 │ Double and Surrender Options

There are still other options for you: double down and surrender. If you think that you have a favorable hand, say a total of 10 or 11, you can choose to double down. This means that you are placing a second wager because you believe that you have a better hand than the dealer. Once you have decided to double down, your next move should only be to stand. Keep in mind that you cannot double down when you already have three cards.

Meanwhile, if you surrender, it means that you take back half of your bet to give up your hand. You will do this option when you think that you will lose to the banker. Some live blackjack games allow you to surrender after the dealer confirms that he does not have a blackjack.

5 │ Hard Hand or Soft Hand

If one of your cards is an Ace, then you automatically have a soft hand. This means that the cards that you are holding are far from getting a total of 21. For example, you have an Ace and a 6, so your hand is either 7 or 17. In this case, you should make a hit if you prefer that the equivalent of your Ace card is 1. Meanwhile, you have a hard hand when you cannot change or add cards anymore because the total of your cards are near 21. For instance, you have a 10 and a Jack, which means that you are holding 20. In this case, your next move should be to stand so that your cards do not go over 21.

6 │ Dealer to Turn Over the Hole Card After All Players Are Done

After all the players had their turn, the dealer will then show his cards. If the dealer has a total card value of 16 or less, he will draw another card. If the dealer’s cards are over 21, those who did not bust will win. A bust means that you or the banker’s cards went over 21. In the event that the dealer did not bust, the player with the highest card value wins.

7 │ Blackjack Payout

As previously mentioned, to win the game, you need to have a total card value of 21 or an amount close to 21 and higher than the dealer’s hand. To get a total card value of 21, you need to get an Ace and any one of the 10-value cards. You can also win if you are able to beat the banker.

When you win the round, you get a payout of 3 to 2. Fortunately, since there are a lot of live blackjacks available, you have the option to choose the table that you think can pay you better. In fact, there are live blackjacks that offer 2 to 1, allowing you to get a higher pay than the house. But, beware of live blackjack games that offer 6-to-5 payouts. These games make the house earn more than you do.

It is always better to know the rules of the game before you start playing. Familiarity with the entire gameplay will save you from losing your funds in a snap and will give you a bigger chance of winning. Other than these rules, you can check the dos and don’ts when playing live blackjack. And if you are looking for more tutorials, guides, and tips, visit HappiStar Tips.